soulmate AU where everyone has a mark on their chest that gets hotter and colder depending on how far you are from your soulmate and only stops once you finally make skin contact with them
and Enjolras has never felt anything from his, because he had heart surgery when he was a child that damaged the nerves, and he’s demisexual so he’s never really bothered thinking about soulmates beyond the issues they discuss in their meetings
and Grantaire shows up at his first meeting after finally giving into Bahorel’s pleading for him to come, his mark getting warmer and warmer as he approaches the Musain, until it’s practically glowing on his chest and he’s so excited because he’s always dreamed about his soulmate and how they’ll be the one person that won’t ever leave him
and he enters the meeting room, just managing to hide the wince at how his chest feels like it’s burning now, looking around to find whoever else is feeling heat like this too
and Grantaire is confused, because his mark’s never been so hot before, so he just takes a seat in the back, watching everyone to see if anyone else is in pain
and Enjolras walks over to his table to say hello, because he always tries to make a point to welcome new members, and Grantaire is gasping now at the pain, sure that this golden marble statue must be the one, because it’s so hot he’s afraid he’s going to burn up on the spot, and he can’t do much more than clutch his drink and stare
because Enjolras looks completely calm
and Grantaire feels his heart break, or maybe just crumble into ashes, because somehow he is not his soulmate’s soulmate
so he downs his drink, manages a greeting (Apollo, because this man burns so much brighter and hotter than the sun), and escapes back to the front of the bar
the pain in his chest lessening as he goes, but still warming him all over as he looks back to see Enjolras, frowning in confusion, return to the front of the room to start the meeting
and as much as it hurts, it’s also the most wonderful thing he’s ever felt, so much better than the ice that clutched at his chest when he was younger and was so sure he was never going to live to see twenty
so he buys another drink, a whole bottle of wine, and goes back, letting Enjolras’ presence burn him up even as he douses the flames in alcohol
and he resigns himself to keeping his distance, because he’s never heard of unrequited soulmates before, and he thinks Enjolras’ touch might very well make him go up in smoke
but he can’t help staying close, feeling the torch on his chest even as he lets Enjolras’ words wash over him
because Enjolras is worth burning for
